Device for reefing sails



June 24, 1941 J. c. CHILDS DEVICE FOR REEFING SAILS Filed June 8, 1939//v vz/vroe JOHN an; as

W lrroelvzr Patented June 24, 194i 9 Claims.

The present invention is directed to sailing vessels, more particularlyto construction of sails whereby reefing and similar effects may beobtained.

In the handling of sailing vessels, situations frequently arise where itis desired to increase or decrease the amount of sail area, to changethe form of the sail, and like situations. It has been previouslyproposed in order to accomplish effects of this character to providemeans for reeling the sails in various manners. According to suchproposals, it was customary to provide a number of reefing points alonga sail, said reefing points being of various characters. Often, theyconsisted of a series of rings sewed to the sails with ropes passingthrough the rings, whereby under the desired circumstances the ropesmight be tightened around the bolt rope edge of the sail or even arounda spar and thus decrease the area of the sail. However, such reefingpoints had numerous disadvantages, among which was the fact that thestrain of the roofing points was concentrated at a relatively smallnumber of stations along the sail,

placing undue stress upon the same and frequently tearing out. In orderto avoid this, it was proposed to sew onto the sail at such pointsadditional pieces of fabric, which in a measure prevented damage to thesail, but at the same time required considerable care and skill andexpense. Furthermore, the actual process of reefing a sail with a numberof spaced reefing points was rather slow and tedious and many times theeffectiveness of the reef was decreased because of the considerable timenecessary for obtaining the same.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome thedifficulties and disadvantages inherent in prior reefing devices and toprovide a structure for reefing and other purposes which is cheap, easyto install, which is highly effective and positive in operation, andwhich allows the reefing to be performed more rapidly and readily thanwas the case heretofore.

In practicing my invention, I replace the spaced reefing points with adevice which provides an extremely large number of such points, and thisis accomplished by the use of a slide or zipper fastener, such as is nowwell known. The Zipper consists of two strips of tape having a series oflugs at adjacent edges and a slider whereby the two sets of lugs may becaused to mesh and to lock together. In my invention, I utilize two ormore such strips of tape which are sewn or otherwise secured to one orthe other side of a sail along the proper lines and by means of theslider the reef may be taken in or let out, as the case may be, withgreat dispatch and ease. Thereby, it becomes possible to obtain quick,neat and adequate reefing of sails.

In the accompanying drawing, constituting a part hereof, and in whichlike reference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, elevational View of a mast and sail fitted witha slide or zipper fastener for the purpose of providing a roach reef;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing multiple conventional reefs on a sail;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing one of the sets of fastenersin operative position to form a reef; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View through a spinnaker fittedwith the present invention.

On the mast l is a boom 2 held thereon by gooseneck 3, as usual. A sail4 is secured to the mast l by slides 5 on a track 6 and to the boom 2 bya similar arrangement. Rings may be used, if desired. At the foot of thesail, and substantially parallel to the boom, is secured a strip of tapei having a series of Zipper lugs 3 along the upper edge thereof. Asimilar strip of tape 9 having corresponding lugs it facing lugs 8 issecured to the sail above tape i in such a manner that the ends it andt2 thereof are adjacent to the ends of tape l with the central portionof tape S'being spaced a substantial distance from the correspondingportion of tape 1, thus being in arcuate form. A slider i3 is providedwith a ring It or other means for operating the same. When it is desiredto reef the sail, it is merely necessary to grasp the ring it or a ropeor Ianyard tide thereto and pull the slider it from point it to H2.ihereby, in an extremely short time, the complete reef is made. Thestrains and stresses are distributed over a number of points, thusminimizing the danger of or damage to the sail.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the tape l is secured to the footof the sail and a similar strip of tape I5 is sewn above the same inparallel relation thereto. A set of lugs it faces lugs 8. A pin if atone end of tape i5 is intended to be introduced into slide It at theproper time for securing lugs t and it together. An additional strip oftape it has lugs is facing lugs 8 and has a pin 25? similar in characterand function to pin H. In order to form a reef, lugs 8 and It may beintermeshed, or if a deeper reef is desired, lugs 8 and I9 areintermeshed. The meshing may start at either end of the tape.

When a reef is taken in, a considerable amount of canvas is involved,which canvas is ordinarily in a bunched condition which may be untidy.Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is providedmeans whereby such excess canvas may be totally encompassed in a pocketand thus streamlining of the excess canvas is obtained. To accomplishthis, additional zipper tapes are provided. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, atape 2! having lugs 22 is secured to the sail 4 on the face opposite toand coinciding with tape 7 and lugs 8. An additional tape 23 having lugs24 is sewn opposite to tape 15, but ordinarily is placed a number ofinches lower than tape l8. An additional tape 25 having lugs 26 isplaced opposite tape 58 but in a position a sufficient distance below tocomplete the encompassing of the loose canvas in such fashion as toprovide a snugly fitting pocket.

When a reef is formed by interrneshing of lugs 8 and i6, extra canvas2'1 is bunched on one side of the sail. Thereupon, lugs 22 and 2d arecaused to interniesh forming a pocket having a smooth outer surface andentirely enclosing the excess canvas 2?. Similarly, when the upper reefis made, a pocket may be formed by means of lugs 22 and 26 to stow theexcess canvas.

In Fig. 5 I have shown two spinnakers. 2B having tapes 3t and 3! sewn orotherwise secured to adjacent edges thereof, having lugs 32 which areintermeshed. This changes the shape of the sails so that wind passinginto the same is divided at the lugs 32, but exerts its force on the twoportions 28 of the sail and thus increases the eflec tiveness thereof.Eaoh of the spinnakers may be used separately if desired.

While I have above set forth a few specific examples of the manner inwhich my ideas may take practical form, these examples are not to beconsidered as defining the scope of my invention but merely asillustrating the nature thereof. Various other embodiments thereof arepossible, as, for example, the reef instead of being of the types shownin Figs. 1 and 2, may be a diagonal reef starting at the tack of thesail and extending diagonally to a point partway up the leach. Thediagonal or straight reefs need not be in straight lines for theirentire lengths but they may be curved at desired points, as upwardly atthe end of the boom to lift the same. Instead of a singl roach or otherreef as shown in Fig. 1, a multiple roach or other reef may be installedas in Fig. 2. The roach or other reef may be placed at other positionson the sail, as along the luff of the sail, or only partly on the luff.Reefs may be provided for introducing draft into a sail by a similararrangement.

Sails are often provided with battens in suitable pockets open at theirends. When a batten breaks it is often difficult to readily remove thebroken piece without injury to the canvas, and a zipper arrangement maybe used along the side of the pocket instead of sewing, thusfacilitating the removal of the batten.

In Fig. 5 there was shown a balloon sail provided with a zipper. Inplace thereof, one may use two or more pieces of sail each provided, ator near an edge, with a zipper tape whereby they may be united to givevarious new and useful eifects. One may add a bonnet (hunt) to aspinnaker or other large sails, the zipper tape being in horizontal,vertical, angular or any other 75 position. These and combinations ofthe various types of reefs may be obtained by my invention.

A Genoa jib is usually furled in thread stops and hoisted onto a stay.The threads are intended to be broken by a pull on the sheet, but if thethreads are too weak they will break prematurely and if too strong thesail will not open properly. By providing a zipper about the furledsail, this difficulty is easily eliminated.

Although the ordinary type of slide fastener has given good results inpractice, in case of a sail fabric which has an excessive amount ofstretch, the effective meshing of the zipper lugs may be interferedwith. In such case, special lugs may be provided which have deeperrecesses and correspondingly longer cooperating projections to allowgreater drift. It may also be advisable to utilize a zipper tape made ofthe same fabric as the sail so that there will be the same amount ofexpansion or contraction in both. In some cases, it is advisable toattach the zipper tape with the thread lines thereof parallel to thethread lines of the sail, or, in other Words, to have the direction ofthe weaves of sail and tape coincide, or nearer to complete coincidencethan ordinary tape.

The present invention is applicable to all sizes, shapes and types ofsails, including square, triangular and others. It makes possible therapid change of shape, amount and character of canvas to meet changes insailing conditions. It also enables one to experiment with new shapes ofsails and to more quickly determine the most favorable combinations inthe particular vessel for different Weather conditions in sailing.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to said sail, a secondsimilar strip of zipper tape secured to said sail a spaced distance frombut in cooperative relation with said first tape, and a slide adapted tocause said tapes to interlock.

2. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to one edge of saidsail, a second similar strip of zipper tape secured to said sail aspaced distance from but in cooperative relation with said first tape,and a slide adapted to cause said tapes to interlock.

3. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to a central portion ofsaid sail, a second similar strip of zipper tape also secured to acentral portion of said sail a spaced distance from but in cooperativerelation with said first tape, and a slide adapted to cause said tapesto interlock.

4. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to the foot of saidsail,

. a second similar strip of zipper tape secured to said sail a spaceddistance from but in cooperative relation with said first tape, and aslide adapted to cause said tapes to interlock.

5. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to said sail, a secondsimilar strip of zipper tape secured to said sail a spaced distance frombut in cooperative relation with said first tape, a slide adapted tocause said tapes to interlock, and a third similar strip of zipper tapesecured to said sail a greater distance from but in cooperative relationwith said first tape.

6. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to said sail, a secondsimilar strip of zipper tape secured to said sail a spaced distance frombut in cooperative relation with said first tape, and a slide adapted tocause said tapes to interlock, an additional strip of zipper tapesecured on the opposite face of said sail and a cooperating strip ofzipper tape on said latter face, whereby they are adapted :to form apocket for excess sail formed by the cooperation of said first mentionedtapes.

7. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to the foot of saidsail, a second similar strip of zipper tape secured tosaid sail a spaceddistance from but in cooperative relation with said first tape, and aslide adapted to cause said tapes to interlock, said second tape beingsubstantially parallel with said first tape, said slide being at theinner edge of said sail to facilitate formation of a reef.

8. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, said strip being secured to the foot of saidsail, a second similar strip of zipper tape secured to said sail aspaced distance from but in cooperative relation with said first tape,and a slide adapted to cause said tapes to interlock, said second tapebeing of arcua-te shape with the ends thereof adjacent to said firsttape at approximately the edges of said sail, the curvatures of saidtapes being different.

9. In combination with a sail, a strip of tape, a series of zipper lugsalong one edge thereof, a second similar strip of Zipper tape secured tosaid sail a spaced distance from but in cooperative relation with saidfirst tape, a slide adapted to cause said tapes to interlock, saidsecond tape being of arcuate shape with at least one of its endsadjacent to said first tape and said slide being located at the junctionof saidtapes to facilitate formation of a reef.

" JOHN CLARKE CI-IILDS.

